LawrenceElliot "Dud" Orcutt

Lawrence Elliot "Dud" Orcutt Dud passed away on June 19, 2014 in Eureka CA at the age of 85. He was born down river on August 18, 1928 and was from the village of Morek on the Klamath River to the late Lawrence and Alice Jones Orcutt. He was a proud member of the Yurok Tribe and was also of Karuk descent. He was also very proud of his service to his country and was a veteran of the Korean War. He grew up hunting and fishing on the Klamath River and was a very good athlete. He played sports during his school years and even later on some of the Hoopa baseball and basketball 'town teams'. Dud stood over 6 feet in height but he always had a smile and gentle way about him. Lawrence faced and endured much trauma (without complaining) in his life but he often spoke of how he persevered. He lost his father early in life and his family was raised in separate homes. Dud and Brother Harvey were sent to Chemawa Indian boarding school in Salem, Oregon at a young age. Despite having his family spilt up, he always tried to maintain relationships with all of siblings. Recently, a cousin recalled Dud showing up at the old Jones family home on a Harley Davidson motorcycle to visit his sister Delores after returning from Korea. He discovered his knack for operating equipment when he ran the school tractor at the Chemawa school garden. His love of gardening was evident as his family always had a large vegetable garden that was shared with family and friends. On April 23, 1971, he married the love of his life, Barbara, and they raised 6 children together. His love and commitment to family will always be remembered and cherished by his family. He was always involved in his children's lives and he taught them to hunt and fish at an early age. He would often show up straight from running a cat in the woods still covered with dust to the baseball field where he coached little league for many years even after his own children moved up in the league. He was very supportive of his kid's participation in sports, was the Cub Scout leader and always stressed the importance of getting an education. Dud had a strong work ethic throughout his life and he worked in the mills, logging industry and was a skilled heavy equipment operator that built many of the roads on the Hoopa Valley Reservation. He later joined the union and built many miles of road on I-5 and Hwy 299. A highlight of his career was when Peterson Caterpillar Company in Eureka selected him to go to Borneo to teach heavy equipment to local natives and while there he even learned how to play cricket. He was on the cover of an engineering magazine featuring a Big D- 9 dozer with rippers on it. The article told of how the equipment had been uniquely used to make the company money. Later in life, he often spoke of his time in the military. He had the honor of sharing his story at the 2013 Hoopa Veterans Day Ceremony where he spoke of going back to save one of his fellow comrades that was wounded. Dud was awarded 2 purple hearts and a bronze star for his time in the military. He was recognized in 2008, at the United States White House by President George Bush. He suffered from PTSD for many years after the war and it was during this time that he gave his life to the Lord. He enjoyed and devoted much of his time to the Yurok culture. His Uncle Sam Jones, Jr, encouraged him to create dance regalia. His uncle said there 'needed to be more flint-obsidian in the dances'. Even at an older age, he often jumped middle with his son Kevin at the Brush dances. He was a deeply spiritual man and prayed daily. He is survived by his wife Barbara Orcutt, his sister Delores Sitts and husband Bob Sitts of North Carolina, Sons: Lawrence Orcutt, and his wife Judy, Michael Orcutt and wife Vivienna, Kevin Orcutt and wife Janine, Edward Moore and wife Jene, Janice Green and husband John. He is survived by grand children: David and Amber Orcutt, Peggy, Presley, and OniRose Orcutt, Tanya, Bruzzy, and Luke Orcutt, Dan and Penny and Allan Nordstrom, Naomi and Jennifer Green. He was preceded in death by his parents: Lawrence and Alice Orcutt, Bothers Harvey and Wayne Orcutt, Sisters: Marilyn Colegrove, Gloria Jones, and Alberta West and numerous other relatives. Services to be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at Salyer Wayside Church with Pastor Toni Burchard officiating. Interment will be at the Willow Creek Veterans cemetery with full military service. Viewing will on Monday June 23, at 4-7 pm at Paul's Chapel in Arcata CA. Food will be provided at the Willow Creek VFW Hall located on 20 Kimtu Road, Willow Creek CA. Pallbearers: Lawrence Orcutt, Mike Orcutt, Kevin Orcutt, Edward Moore Jr., Lawrence George Orcutt, and Luke Orcutt. Honorary Pall Bearers: Eric Ammon, Jimmy Ammon, Kenny Bain, KG Bain, Buddy Bear Kinder, Bryan Colegrove, Lonny Colegrove, Nolan Colegrove, Alphonso Colegrove, Billy Colegrove, Troy Fletcher, John Green, Raymond Jackson, Joe James, William Joe Jarnaghan, Richard Jones, Javier Kinney, Paul Kuska, Loren McCovey, Clyde Moon, George Moon, Junior Moon, Duffy Mott, Dan Nordstrom, Bob Sitts, David Tripp, Austin Blake, Kim Conrad, Jeff Guido, Clarence Hostler, Jack Jackson, Pat Jackson, Robert Kinney, Bill Magdalena, Gary Markenson and Allen Nordstrom. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com and click on obituaries.

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